9-1-1: Nashville Continues An 8-Year Franchise Trend With Its Latest Casting Update

Details are slowly emerging surrounding the third installment in the 9-1-1 franchise, but it’s clear that the Nashville entry is following suit with a series staple. Little is known about 9-1-1: Nashville so far, but the second spinoff from the flagship series is slated to premiere during the 2025-26 network season. Just like the original series and the Texas branch, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Nashville will be created by Ryan Murphy, known for smash hits like Glee and the American Horror Story anthology. However, given that 9-1-1: Lone Star ended in February 2025, the Nashville installment has an uphill battle ahead.

In many ways, the upcoming spinoff could be sabotaged by 9-1-1: Lone Star due to their similar settings. While many hoped for a more unique location— either on the East Coast, around New York and Boston, or in one of the major cities of the Midwest— 9-1-1: Nashville will mark the second series in the franchise set in the Southern United States. Whether the spinoff will have a unique twist to give it an edge or not remains to be seen, but the two cast members that have been revealed indicate that 9-1-1: Nashville is starting on familiar ground.

9-1-1: Nashville Casts Chris O'Donell & Jessica Capshaw As Its Leads

The Two Have Been Cast In The Same Procedural Before

The first 9-1-1: Nashville cast member to be announced was Chris O’Donnell, a renowned actor with a nearly 40-year career. O’Donnell has had many iconic roles, including an impressive film run in the 1990s that saw him act opposite big names like Drew Barrymore, Minnie Driver, and Sandra Bullock. In 1997, O'Donnell starred as the titular sidekick in Batman & Robin, joining a star-studded cast including Uma Thurman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and George Clooney. Chris O’Donnell is most widely known for his work as G. Callen on NCIS: Los Angeles, but many remember him from his recurring Grey’s Anatomy role, veterinarian Finn.

Ironically, Grey's Anatomy is where O’Donnell’s 9-1-1: Nashville costar, Jessica Capshaw, got her big break as Dr. Arizona Robbins. Capshaw was originally cast for a small recurring role, but her work landed her a coveted spot as a series regular. Capshaw was present for some of Grey’s Anatomy’s biggest moments— including the infamous plane crash— and, though her character was written out in 2018, Arizona Robbins’ trailblazing impact on the overall series as the longest-running lesbian character in television history cannot be overstated. As such a recognizable figure, Capshaw’s casting announcement for 9-1-1: Nashville points to a broader franchise trend.

O'Donell & Capshaw's Nashville Casting Continues A 9-1-1 Franchise Tradition

The Spinoff Is Setting Up A Dynamic Duo

With O'Donnell and Capshaw both being familiar faces from their work on network TV, it’s clear that Ryan Murphy is employing the same tactic he used for 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star: creating a recognizable duo to draw in viewers before the procedural has had a chance to prove itself. The flagship series stars Peter Krause as Captain Bobby Nash and Angela Bassett as LAPD Sergeant Athena Grant-Nash, authority figures in two out of three of the show’s emergency response teams. Similarly, 9-1-1: Lone Star began with Rob Lowe’s fire captain Owen Strand and Liv Tyler’s paramedic captain Michelle Blake.

All leads in the 9-1-1 franchise have been well-known actors with iconic roles under their belt. To maximize star power, the characters often connect in some way, like Athena and Bobby, who became one of the best couples in 9-1-1 after the pilot season. Michelle and Owen may have had a romantic storyline in 9-1-1: Lone Star, but Liv Tyler left the show following the season 1 finale and never returned. While many procedurals typically opt for fresh faces or up-and-coming names, Ryan Murphy has prioritized existing talent to help get the series off the ground, to great success overall.

Who O'Donell & Capshaw Will Play In 9-1-1: Nashville

Every Fire Station Needs A Captain

While Jessica Capshaw’s character hasn’t been clearly defined, Chris O’Donnell will play 9-1-1: Nashville’s Don Sharpe: fire captain, rodeo rider, and devoted husband and father. Sharpe’s son— who is not cast but will be named Ryan— will work at the fire station alongside O’Donnell’s character, eerily similar to Owen Strand and his son, TK (Ronen Rubinstein), at the start of 9-1-1: Lone Star. Capshaw’s character, whose name has yet to be revealed, is the remaining piece of the core family unit, portraying Don’s wife and Ryan’s mother.

Uncanny resemblance to 9-1-1: Lone Star aside, the two main characters of 9-1-1: Nashville follow a typical formula. The Sharpe family will be at the center of the action, but what little has been teased of Don’s “secrets” will likely be the driving force behind the pilot season’s personal conflict. Hopefully, Capshaw’s character will serve a bigger purpose to the story than simply being Don’s spouse, but only time will tell how she fits into the overarching plot. If 9-1-1: Nashville follows the script, Capshaw’s character will either work at dispatch or Nashville PD— but there’s still time to diverge.

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